Syracuse Basketball: Orange among programs pursuing transfer Matt Haarms
Mere hours after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, Syracuse basketball is among more than 20 programs pursuing former Purdue Boilermaker Matt Haarms.
Matt Haarms stunned the college basketball world on Monday afternoon, quickly becoming the most attractive option within the transfer portal. The 7-foot-3 Amsterdam native has since heard from over 20 schools that include Syracuse basketball, Kentucky, Arizona, and Louisville.
The 250-pound center told 247 Sports that he is far from making a decision, and is still receiving phone calls from power five programs.
Haarms, who averaged a career-best 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds as a sophomore, was averaging 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds before Purdue’s season and second-round matchup of the Big Ten Tournament against Ohio State was canceled due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Less than 48 hours after the Orange picked up former Illinois guard Alan Griffin and saw 6-foot-10 forward Patrick Tape recommit to Duke, they are once again using the transfer portal in hopes of landing an impact player.
Haarms, whose averaged at least two blocks per game in three years with Purdue, would be able to play right away as a senior in the fall and provide the Orange with stability at the center position they haven’t seen since Rakeem Christmas.
Some of Haarms’ best performances as a Junior have come during tough out-of-conference matchups against ACC opposition, and during in-conference play.
In an overtime loss to Florida State in the BIG TEN/ACC Challenge on November 30th, Haarms scored 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. In a December 4th victory over then-fifth ranked Virginia, Haarms tallied 11 points and five rebounds.
In a double-overtime victory over Minnesota on January 2nd, Haarms scored 26 points on an effective 11-of16 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. In a February 5th victory over then-17th ranked Iowa, Haarms scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
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Haarms is far from making a decision. However, if he chooses Syracuse, he’ll provide the program with a forward presence they haven’t seen in five years.